BMRCL plans to rejuvenate lakes, starting with Kengeri

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) managing director N Sivasailam on Saturday said that as part of the socio-corporate responsibility it has taken up the task of rejuvenation of city lakes.

He said this while taking part in the interaction session organised by Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) at Cabinet Hall. Sivasailam explained that a huge amount of water is being collected along the Metro stretch and is being currently channelised to underground recharging. The new proposal is to collect water in viaducts and discharge it in lakes.

Citing an example he said the water collected along the Metro stretch in past three days of rainy spell would have been sufficient to fill up Ulsoor Lake. “The government has already okayed the proposal for the rejuvenation of Kengeri lake and Veerasandra lake near Electronic City,” he maintained.

He further said that Metro will demonstrate its capability in these lakes and the project will be taken up wherever the Metro project is coming up. “It will be environment friendly and carried out on par with international standards. The water stored in the viaducts will be potable. Even then, Metro will ensure that water is safe before filling the lakes,” he underlined. “We do not wish to own the lakes and need cooperation from the civic bodies,” he added.

Sivasailam said that public should not blame BMRCL for bad condition of roads, wherever the Metro work is on. Similarly the residents should ensure that pillars of Metro are garbage free. “I cannot appoint policemen to guard the pillars. Society should take up the responsibility,” he explained.

Currently proposal to acquire lands on Mysore Road in Kenger had been given to Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB). Land will also be acquired for Metro work, between Byappanahalli and Mahadevapura. The project will be extended to Whitefield, he maintained.
Costly parking: Parking on Metro station premises will be costly as it can’t be subsidised like tickets. The space is not available and it involves a cost, he said.

Though Metro has not been asked to provide parking facilities, it will provide wherever it is possible, but it will be for a price, which can prove to be costly, he maintained.
Mahalakshmi Layout-Peenya link by May

Sivasailam announced that Metro rail will start operating between Mahalakshmi Layout and Peenya by May next year. Construction of a bridge at Malleswaram is consuming time. Metro is spending Rs250-300 crore every month for implementation of the project. Further it had borrowed Rs1,750 crore loan from HUDCO and other agencies.

Phase 2 work started

The work for Phase 2 of Metro project had already begun. “Pre-project activity is already going on,” Sivasailam maintained. “We are waiting for the approval of Union government, once it is done, we will open the tenders in two months,” he added.